Parkway's Trophy run comes to an end with Chatham loss

AFTER a gruelling, stop-start journey on Friday, Plymouth Parkway arrived in Kent on the eve of their FA Trophy third round tie knowing a significant test awaited.

- By MIKE PARRISH

Louie Cayless has joined Parkway on loan from Exeter City

(ALAN STANFORD/PPAUK)

A short hop to the Bauvill Stadium followed on Saturday afternoon, but there were no shortcuts against a Chatham Town side flying high in third place in the Isthmian Premier and carrying the confidence of a club growing rapidly in all areas.Chris McPhee was bold in his selection. New signing and Exeter City scholar Louie Cayless was handed a debut at right-back, while Isaac Finch was trusted between the posts on loan for his first outing in Parkway colours. There were welcome returns for Rocky Neal, Mikey Williams and Taylor Scarff, but one notable omission raised eyebrows as James Watts-Barciela dropped to the bench.

On a crisp winter's afternoon, played out on a pristine 3G surface, Parkway set out hoping to write their name into the fourth round and equal the club's best-ever FA Trophy run. They were met by a lively home atmosphere, driven by an enthusiastic announcer and relentless drumbeat.

Finch was involved early, confidently claiming a short corner routine inside three minutes to settle any nerves, and the opening exchanges were typically cagey as both sides sized each other up. But it was Chatham who began to impose themselves, their high front three pressing aggressively, with Matt Macarthur particularly lively in the early stages.